Mount Timpanogos

So, we decided to hike up a local mountain in Utah, Mt Timpanogos, while visiting mom and dad.  

Dad has hiked it quite a few times before and he's in awesome shape!  It is kind of big-time.  We started just before 7.  It was chilly!!  

I wasn't  really prepared for how hard it was!   It was a 10 hour hike, and 15 miles of strenuous hiking - up a mountain. 

Craig leaving his mark...

We walked across these rocks forever...

I thought it would be just a dirt trail... Not so much.  We hiked on long patches of rocks and uneven ground, and I had to use my hands a lot toward the top.  

A year ago I would have never imagined being able to do something like this (or wanting to), and that's a pretty awesome feeling to accomplish something so challenging!  

The wildflowers were a-mazing!!!  

It was super fun seeing all the mountain goats up close... they are much bigger than I thought!  

It was absolutely the most beautiful views I've ever seen in my life!  Utah ( for those of you who don't know) is so picturesque!  So it was totally worth being sore for a week afterwards!  

I can't wait to go again next year!!

First Day of School

We all had wonderful first days of school!  

Grady is in First Grade, at my school and since I teach 1st too we had our first days together... and that's super fun!!  

Grady has Mrs. Murphy this year, and he/we couldn't be happier!  

He has quite a few friends from last year in his class and has already made quite a few new ones.

The highlights of his week so far have been... telling us Mrs. Murphy stories, winning the prize in Science Discovery for the best homemade play-dough, getting his idea for table name picked (Lightning Lizards) and checking out his first chapter book that he's reading on his own.  Needless to say, he loves school and wants homework?!?  Crazy kid...

This picture says it all for Cole.  Can you say Terrible Twos?!?  There really are no words for the mood swings except exhausting.  Love him though!!!  It's "Cole's way" or no-way.  Period.  The end.  

I'm doing the World Language Immersion program this year.  It's like being a first year teacher in lots of ways and soooo much extra work.  I do love both of my spunky classes though... I always do and my team is the very best.  There will be lots of happy hours this year... 

I think it's going to be a great school year for our family... but how many days until summer break?!?  Ha!

Utah Trip - Part 1

So my two week trip with the little boys started with a late night flight into Salt Lake... It was perfect timing!  The kids were plugged in to their technology and full of yummy snacks to get us through the 2 1/2 hour flight.  Grady (the 6 yo) slept and Cole (the 2 yo) did not!  Luckily, he watched Cars 2 1/2 times and was perfectly happy!  

The next day after lots of playtime and relaxation, we headed into Heber City for the rodeo.  Cole loves horses and cows so he was thrilled and Grady always looks forward to the rodeo.  We had front row seats and enjoyed lots of yummy goodies too!  

Cole kept saying, "Mean bulls"...

Grady even participated in the stick horse race!  Proud of his medal...

Cole helped me finish my chocolate covered frozen banana- odd choice I know but so yummy!

The next day we took a drive to Mirror Lake and the Falls.  It was beautiful!

We also had to stop at Utah's best hamburger joint... It took 2 hours but was worth the wait!  I particularly enjoyed my Better than Anything flavored shake!  

The next afternoon we went to the rodeo fair.  Grady had a ball riding the rides - he's quiet the daredevil!  

We rode the Ferris wheel together- it was high and Goose thought it would be funny to rock it back and forth!  Yikes!

Another day we decided to take a practice hike up a piece of Mount Timpanogos.  

What a beautiful hike!

We also decided to try out a new water park as well... It was awesome!  Just perfect for little ones.  I'm thinking we'll make it a summer tradition!  

Talk about a beautiful background for a day of water fun!  

We spent lots and lots of time playing outside... With highs in the 80's and lows in the 50's we would have lived outside if possible.  The boys were also very entertained  playing with old animal bones and teeth...

We saw lots and lots of wildlife...

Made yummy s'mores...

These two had the best time wrestling and just being silly.  They also spent some time together in time out!  ;-)

Thanksgiving Point is another fun place to go at Mimi and Papa's house.  We went to the dinosaur park and the farm.  The kids had such a good time!

We celebrated the day with 25 cent ice cream cones!  

Papa took Goose to the golf course and after hitting some balls he played a few holes.  G is becoming quite the golfer!  

Papa even let Grady drive!  

Papa was very impressed with Cole's iPad playing skills- he taught himself this summer.

These three had lots of good snuggles!

So did these three!

I enjoyed lots of beautiful sunsets, late night HGTV and I finished a book.  Mimi cooked lots of really good meals and we even had a gelato run!  I don't think I put on make-up even once... Now that is heaven!  ;-)

Next up... Yellowstone and a climb up Mount Timpanogos!